NED VS NZ MATCH DETAILS:
Venue: Sportpark Westvliet, The Hague
Date and Time: 4th August, 8:30 PM IST
New Zealand heads to the Netherlands for a two-match T20I series commencing on the 4th of August, Thursday, before their white-ball tour of the Caribbean. The Kiwis are currently on a nine-match winning streak after sweeping Ireland and Scotland and will be vying to stretch that tally in the upcoming series.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands recently qualified for the T20 World Cup in Australia later this year and will be hoping for a strong showing against a quality New Zealand side. In contrast to the visitors, the Netherlands are yet to open their account in a bilateral series this year and their chances look bleak against a rampaging Kiwi side. Host New Zealand will be looking to complete a whitewash in the T20I series when they face the Netherlands in the second and final game at SportsPark Westvliet, The Hague on Friday.
In the first T20I, New Zealand registered a 16-run win over the Netherlands, courtesy of excellent performances from Martin Guptill, Blair Tickner, and Ben Sears. With this result, New Zealand has taken a 1-0 lead in the two-match T20I series.
On the other hand, the Netherlands will be pleased with their overall performance in the opening game of the T20I series. Captain Scott Edwards will be hoping that the side can produce something special to level the two-match T20I series on Friday.
TEAMS PREVIEW
NETHERLANDS PREVIEW
The team management will be hoping that the side can show discipline in all three departments and level the two-match T20I series.
In the batting department, the onus will be on the likes of Max O’Dowd, Stephan Myburgh, Tom Cooper, Scott Edwards, Bas de Leede, and Logan van Beek to provide the bulk of the runs.
In the 1st T20I, Bas de Leede produced a valiant inning for the Netherlands. He smashed 66 runs off 53 balls with the help of five fours and two sixes. Besides De Leede, Scott Edwards also chipped in with 20 runs off 16 balls with the help of two fours and one six
In the bowling department, the onus will be on the likes of Clayton Ford, Logan van Beek, Ryan Klein, Shariz Ahmad, and Tim Pringle to provide crucial breakthroughs.
In the previous match, Leg-arm orthodox spinner Shariz Ahmad was the pick of the bowlers for the Netherlands and claimed 2 for 15 in his three overs.
NEW ZEALAND PREVIEW
The BlackCaps won’t make any changes to their playing XI for this fixture. In the batting department, the side will be relying on the likes of Martin Guptill, James Neesham, Finn Allen, Daryl Mitchell, and Glenn Phillips to deliver the bulk of the runs in this series finale.
In the previous match, opener Martin Guptill was the standout performer with the bat for New Zealand. He played well and finished the innings with the top score of 45 runs off 36 balls with the help of four fours and one six.
Besides Guptill, Neesham continued his merry ways with the bat and smashed 32 runs off 17 balls with the help of two fours and two sixes.
In the bowling department, the side will be depending on the likes of Lockie Ferguson, Ben Sears, Mitchell Santner, Blair Tickner, and Ish Sodhi to deliver crucial breakthroughs.
In the previous match, Blair Tickner was the standout bowler on display for New Zealand and claimed 4 for 27 in 3.3 overs. Besides Tickner, Ben Sears bowled well and finished with figures of 3 for 22 in his four overs.
WEATHER CONDITIONS
With the Weather forecast for Friday’s game expected to be fair with no sign of rain, the wicket prepared at The Hague will provide an interesting contest between bat and ball.
VENUE DETAILS
SportsPark Westvliet, The Hague is going to host the second and final T20I game between New Zealand and the Netherlands.
TOSS: TO BAT
Both the teams will be keen to win the toss, bat first, and post a score over 145 runs. The previous match played at The Hague was won by the side batting first.
NED VS NZ PITCH REPORT
The surface at Sportpark Westvliet hasn’t seen much international action, but traditionally it’s not been a high-scoring ground, and the bowlers are a handful at the surface. The team winning the toss will likely opt to bowl first as teams batting second have won 60% of the venue, but given the contrasting quality of the two sides, toss won’t be much of a factor.
NED VS NZ 1ST T20I PROBABLE PLAYING XIS:
NETHERLAND:
Stephan Myburgh, Max O’Dowd, Bas de Leede, Tom Cooper, Scott Edwards (c & wk), Teja Nidamanuru, Tim Pringle, Logan van Beek, Vivian Kingma, Ryan Klein, Shares Ahmad
NEW ZEALAND:
Martin Guptill, Finn Allen, Dane Cleaver (wk), Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy.
PROBABLE THE BEST BATTER OF THE 1ST T20I MATCH
MARK CHAPMAN :
Hong Kong-born top-order batter, Mark Chapman, has been in terrific nick of late and backed his terrific 83-run innings in the second T20I against Scotland with an unbeaten match-winning ton in the one-off ODI. The southpaw will be eyeing to cement his place in the squad with another brilliant outing with the bat.
PROBABLE THE BEST BOWLER OF THE 1ST T20I MATCH
LOCKIE FERGUSON:
Lockie Ferguson has been among the wickets in his recent outings with the Blackcaps, scalping 11 wickets in six games, including a backbreaking four-for in the first T20I against Ireland. The Kiwi speedster is going to be a handful against an inexperienced Netherlands side.
WINNING PREDICTION
Based on current form, New Zealand will be clear favourites to win their game against the Netherlands. With likes Martin Guptill, James Neesham, Ben Sears, and Ish Sodhi in excellent form this season, the team management will be hoping that the side can deliver another clinical performance in this series finale.
Expect New Zealand to beat the Netherlands and complete a 2-0 whitewash in the T20I series.
